Choose Work

Mariët Hoeksma (38) is the founder of HB Bubbelbus, aDutch company supporting parents of highly to profoundly gifted children, and the mother of three gifted children. She is also writing a book based on her own experiences and interviews with parents of highly to profoundly gifted children (IQ 145+) across the Netherlands.

In this episode, Mariët shares her career journey from IT to becoming a solopreneur, and the story behind HB Bubbelbus. She talks about parenting highly to profoundly gifted children, the challenges parents can face, and the importance of understanding yourself and following your gut feeling.**

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction

02:50 From university to IT: Mariët’s early career journey

07:00 Finding peers — and discovering giftedness through her son

10:40 What does highly and profoundly gifted (IQ 145+) actually mean?

12:00 Maybe this applies to me too — recognizing giftedness in herself

18:20 From IT to entrepreneurship: how the career transition began

23:40 “Just start doing things” — experimenting, learning and building a business

27:40 “If no one ever wrote a book about it, maybe I should”

35:20 Highly to profoundly gifted children: asynchronous development, masking & intensity

40:20 Parenting highly gifted children and parental burnout

45:40 Loneliness and feeling like the “odd one out”

51:40 Parents as advocates for their highly gifted children

54:40 Autonomy, boundaries & letting children explore

58:00 Stereotypes about highly and profoundly gifted children

01:06:40 Mariët’s vision for HB Bubbelbus and the future

01:07:50 “The better you know yourself, the better you can guide your child”

01:08:40 Where to learn more about Mariët and her work

*

References:

- Novilo: https://www.novilo.nl/zelfstandigen-opleiding/

- Mensa: www.mensa.org

- Triple Nine Society (TNS): www.triplenine.org

- Delphi Model of Giftedness: https://www.oya.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/190702-article-Delphi-Model-of-Giftedness-ADJ-reprint.pdf(English) + https://www.oya.nl/producten/delphikaart/ (Dutch)

- Podcast: Hoogbegaafd De Gids (NL)

- De Ongelooflijke Podcast (NL)

- Vanessa R. Woods: President-CEO of TheInternational Gifted Consortium (IGC) Research Center for the Highly & Profoundly Gifted +podcast host of Room With A View

- Dr. Noks Nauta

- P. Susan Jackson

- Els De Wit

*

Support the podcast:- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntary contribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Mariet Hoeksma & learn more about her work:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariethoeksma/

- Website for parents: mariethoeksma.com 

- Website for advice and guidance for parents and children: hb-babbelbus.nl

- Questionnaire for parents of highly/profoundly gifted children (IQ145+) from all over the world: https://forms.gle/NBTToz14FPRaGNvv9 (in English) + https://forms.gle/gDYZsmb9fcXduRFf6 (in Dutch)

*

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Coach • Expert in Giftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

- Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

- Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do not constitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

Femke Hovinga (37) is a social entrepreneur, speaker and researcher specialising in giftedness. She is the founder & director of SCALIQ, a psychometric research and development institute, and the founder & managing director of Talentissimo,an expertise center focused on giftedness.

In this episode, Femke shares her own journey through education and work as a gifted person, including the challenges she experienced. She also talks about her mission to improve the lives of gifted individuals and the story behind SCALIQ’s development of IQ tests designed to measure scores from 105 to 170.

*

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction

01:40 Meet Femke Hovinga: social entrepreneur, speaker and researcher specialising in giftedness

02:10 Growing up gifted: “I felt different, like the odd one out.”

05:20 From struggling at school to a promise at age 6 to make things better for gifted people

06:20 Being identified as gifted at age 6: Understanding why she felt different

12:30 What gifted children need to thrive: being seen, accepted & finding peers

24:20 Understanding IQ differences & the “odd one out within the odd ones out”

27:30 Why she founded SCALIQ: Developing IQ tests up to 170 & what makes the KIQT+ and VIQT+ different

29:50 What does it mean to norm & validate an IQ test?

37:40 Why self-funding SCALIQ?

41:00 Why identifying giftedness is not a luxury but a necessity

49:45 Should you retake an IQ test?

01:00:00 Femke’s vision for the future

01:02:30 “Be the person you needed when you were younger” — Femke’s message

01:04:05 How to get in touch with Femke & learn more about her work

*

References:

- KIQT+ from ages 5-10: https://scaliq.com/en/the-kiqt-2/- VIQT+ from ages 11-70, including call for participants for norming process: https://scaliq.com/viqt/ (in Dutch)

- KIQT+ white paper: https://scaliq.com/en/kiqt-whitepaper-en/

- Study: (Un)identified. Study into predictive factors in the identification process of (presumably) gifted learners and/or children with a developmental advantage by school and parents: https://scaliq.com/en/unidentified/

- How the scoring of KIQT+ works: https://scaliq.com/maar-3-subtesten/ (in Dutch)

- Why a separate IQ test for (highly) gifted people: https://scaliq.com/waarom-een-speciale-test-voor-hoogbegaafden/ (in Dutch)

- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)

- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

- Dr. James T. Webb

*

Support the podcast:
- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntary contribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Femke Hovinga & learn more about her work:

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/femkehovinga/

- SCALIQ: https://scaliq.com/en/scaliq-bovengemiddelde-iq-testen-english/

- Talentissimo: https://www.talentissimo.eu/

*

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Coach • Expert in Giftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

- Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

- Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do not constitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

Frans Corten (63) is a career coach who has worked with gifted adults for more than 25 years. He is also the author of Exceptional Talent: A Guide for the Gifted, the Inventors and Other Birds of a Rare Feather, and has co-authored several articles on giftedness in the workplace.

In this episode, Frans shares his personal story as a highly gifted person, including his experience of discovering that he is gay at 18. He reflects on (high) giftedness, the parallels between the emancipation process of gifted people and that of the gay community, identity, authenticity, career detours, autonomy, and finding — and creating — your own path.

*

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

01:40 Meet Frans Corten: career coach for (highly) gifted adults and author

03:44 Growing up highly gifted: “For me, it's not interesting at all. It’s Just How I Am.”

11:35 Discovering he is gay at 18: "My life started after that moment."

14:50 The emancipation process of gifted people & parallels with that of the gay community

23:20 Profiling yourself and tuning in to others

26:30 How gifted people can blossom: Focus on what you like to do.

29:20 “Sometimes the Shortest Way Is a Detour” — Rethinking Career Choices

32:00 Autonomy, self-employment & giftedness in the workplace

36:40 The story behind his book Exceptional Talent

40:30 High Giftedness: indicators, complicated childhoods & making meaning of your past

46:30 “Don’t adapt, tune in” — Authenticity, finding your peers & letting yourself shine

54:40 Who is Exceptional Talent for? Helping gifted people build better careers

55:50 “Dare” — Creating your own path & following your heart

57:10 Where to learn more bbout Frans Corten and his book

*

References

- Nauta, N., & Corten, F. (2002). Gifted Adults in Work. Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319068968_Gifted_adults_in_work

- Transformation Game: https://innerlinks.com/

- Choose Work episodes #2 and #12 with Dr Noks Nauta  

- Mensa: www.mensa.org

- Triple Nine Society (TNS): www.triplenine.org

- Rianne van de Ven

*

Support the podcast
- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntary contribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Frans Corten and his book:

- Website: https://uitzonderlijktalent.nl/ (Dutch) + http://exceptionaltalent.eu/ (English)

- Book: Exceptional Talent: A guide for the gifted, the inventors and other birds of a rare feather

*

For show notes, please visit ⁠heididelanghe.com/podcast⁠

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Coach • Expert in Giftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

- Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

- Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do not constitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

As part of the English-language series on giftedness in the workplace, I’m joined by Dr. Noks Nauta (78) — non-practising medical doctor, psychologist, author, and pioneer of adult giftedness research.

Noks only discovered she is highly gifted (IQ 145+) at the age of 52 through a conflict in the workplace. What began as a personal discovery evolved into a lifelong mission: making the world a better place for gifted adults and seniors. She is also a co-founder of the Gifted Adults Foundation (IHBV) in the Netherlands — the world’s only foundation dedicated exclusively to gifted adults.

This episode explores 10 key things to know about high giftedness, and practical tips to obtain your highly gifted person’s driver's license.

*

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Meet Dr. Noks Nauta

03:40 What does highly gifted (IQ 145+) actually mean?

11:00 Finding your tribe: Mensa, Triple Nine Society, International Society for Philosophical Enquiry & (highly) gifted cafés

26:35 High giftedness: characteristics, the Delphi Model of Giftedness & performance

30:18 Parenting highly gifted children

41:45 Why giftedness is still a taboo

43:35 Mental health, caregivers, and self-compassion

50:30 The Highly Gifted Person's Driver's License

55:20 “Don’t say the G-word.” Talk about your characteristics and needs.

01:06:00 "It's not a sexy topic." Adult giftedness research & the future of the field

01:11:48 Giftedness and neurodiversity

01:15:55 Books, resources & where to learn more

01:20:00 Where to learn more about Dr. Noks Nauta and her work

*

References:

- Mensa: www.mensa.org

- Triple Nine Society (TNS): www.triplenine.org

- International Society for Philosophical Enquiry (ISPE): www.thethousand.com

- High Giftedness Expertise Group (HGEG): https://highgiftedness.org

- Wiki about high giftedness: https://highgiftedness.org/wiki/index.php/Hoofdpagina

- Gifted Adults Foundation (Dutch: Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV)) website: https://ihbv.nl/

- Gifted Adults Foundation leaflets: https://ihbv.nl/leaflets-english/ (English) + https://ihbv.nl/leaflets/ (Dutch) + https://ihbv.nl/leaflets-deutsch/ (German)

- (Highly) gifted cafes (Dutch: (zeer) HB-café) of the Gifted Adults Foundation: https://hb-cafe.ihbv.nl/- Delphi Model of Giftedness: https://www.oya.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/190702-article-Delphi-Model-of-Giftedness-ADJ-reprint.pdf (English) + https://www.oya.nl/producten/delphikaart/ (Dutch)

- Choose Work episode 11 about the Delphi Model ofGiftedness explained

- Blog. The Other Side of the Concept of Neurodiversity/Neurodivergence. Dr. Noks Nauta: www.mensafoundation.org/the-other-side-of-the-concept-of-neurodiversity-neurodivergence/ (English)

- Documentary. RISE. Susan Jackson.

- DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses

- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

- SCALIQ: https://scaliq.com/en/scaliq-bovengemiddelde-iq-testen-english/

- Rianne van de Ven

- Dr. Allen Frances

- Amy Beach

- Anna Maria van Schurman

- Hildegard von Bingen

*

Support the podcast:
- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntary contribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Dr. Noks Nauta & learn more about her work:

- Website: www.noksnauta.nl

- Blog: noksnauta.wordpress.com

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/noksnauta

*

For show notes, please visit ⁠heididelanghe.com/podcast⁠

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Coach • Expert in Giftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

- Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

- Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

What happens when you spend decades feeling like the odd one out — too intense, too much — only to discover through your child that you are gifted?

In this English-language episode, I’m joined by Pauline Coret, Director of the Gifted Adults Foundation (IHBV) — the world’s only foundation dedicated exclusively to gifted adults. Alongside her work with the foundation, Pauline is a certified Career Professional and Core Talents Analyst.

Together, we explore Pauline’s personal journey as a gifted adult, the mission and impact of the Gifted Adults Foundation, and the Delphi Model of Giftedness. Pauline also shares how she recognises the model’s characteristics in her own life and work.

*

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Choose Work

01:28 Meet Pauline Coret: certified career professional and director of the Gifted Adults Foundation
03:10 Growing up gifted without knowing it
05:40 School, underperforming on purpose, and learning to fit in
08:40 University, failure, and finding work
09:10 Fifteen years in insurance: boredom and job-hopping
11:20 Feeling like the odd one out at work
15:20 Why every job became boring
17:20 Workplace conflict and burnout
18:02 Discoverying her son's giftedness and the book that dropped like a bomb
19:40 Pauline's IQ score of 142 and a complete shift in self-understanding
23:40 Finding peers through the Gifted Adults Foundation and Gifted Cafes
25:20 Leaving insurance and starting her own business
27:10 Entrepreneurship, autonomy, and finding work that finally fits
30:24 The Gifted Adults Foundation: mission, research, community, international ambitions

34:30 How to start a Gifted Cafe in your own country

35:55 The Delphi Model of Giftedness explained
40:09 Why most giftedness models don't work well for adults
41:34 Applying the Delphi Model to Pauline's own life

53:30 What Pauline still wants to achieve — and her dream for the Foundation

54:39 Where to find Pauline and the Gifted Adults Foundation

*

References:

- Book: Hoogbegaafd: als je kind (g)een Einstein is. Tessa Kieboom.

- Gifted Adults Foundation (Dutch: Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV)) website: https://ihbv.nl/

- Gifted Adults Foundation leaflets: https://ihbv.nl/leaflets-english/ (English) + https://ihbv.nl/leaflets/ (Dutch) + https://ihbv.nl/leaflets-deutsch/ (German)

- Gifted Adults Foundation gifted cafes (Dutch: HB-Cafés): https://hb-cafe.ihbv.nl/

- IHBV Facebook: www.facebook.com/InstituutHBVolwassenen/

- IHBV Instagram: www.instagram.com/stichtingihbv/

- IHBV LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ihbv-instituut-hoogbegaafdheid-volwassenen

- Delphi Model of Giftedness: www.oya.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/190702-article-Delphi-Model-of-Giftedness-ADJ-reprint.pdf (English) + https://www.oya.nl/producten/delphikaart/ (Dutch)

- Dr. Matt Zakreski

*

Support the podcast:

- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntary contribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Pauline Coret:

- Website: www.watzijnmijnkerntalenten.nl/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-coret-08002810/

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pauline_kernkompas/

*

For show notes, please visit ⁠heididelanghe.com/podcast⁠

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Career & Leadership Coach • Expert in Giftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

- Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

- Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

How do you navigate career transitions when things feel uncertain and uncomfortable?

In this episode in English, I’m joined by Dr. Rachael Skews — behavioural scientist, psychologist, coach, and internationally recognised expert in Acceptance & Commitment Coaching.

We take a deep dive into career transitions and psychological flexibility & ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy),exploring why uncertainty, fear, impostor thoughts, and self-doubt often show up when our work really matters — and how ACT can help us move forward.

*

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Choose Work
01:05 Career transitions, psychological flexibility, and why this episode matters
01:30 Meet Dr. Rachael Skews and her work in Acceptance & Commitment Coaching
03:10 What Acceptance & Commitment Coaching really is (and what it isn’t)
06:45 Impostor thoughts, self-doubt, and why high performers experience them
08:30 Why the goal isn’t to get rid of difficult thoughts and feelings
10:30 Rachael’s non-linear career journey: consultancy, academia, health tech, and entrepreneurship
15:10 Moving from academia to Headspace and working in behavioural science
18:10 Entrepreneurship, uncertainty, and psychological flexibility as a resource
20:00 Rest, recovery, and treating yourself like an elite performer
22:20 Self-criticism, overworking, and building self-compassion at work
23:40 Redundancy, career inflection points, and conscious career choice
25:10 Starting a business: loneliness, creativity, and stepping into the swamp
27:30 Values, meaning, and designing work that actually fits you
30:10 The “swamp” metaphor: discomfort as the price of meaningful work
33:00 Fear, uncertainty, and speaking outside your comfort zone
35:10 ACT in action: focusing on what’s on the other side of the swamp
38:00 Risk tolerance, uncertainty, and how personality shapes career choices
42:20 Case example: supporting a senior leader considering entrepreneurship
45:00 Scarcity mindset, money fears, and responsibility during career transitions
48:00 Why fear makes sense — and why it shouldn’t make the decision
50:30 Is it ever too late to build psychological flexibility?
53:10 Psychological flexibility as “conscious evolution”
54:20 Rachael’s upcoming book on Acceptance & Commitment Coaching
56:00 A practical reflection exercise for listeners navigating career transitions
58:10 Where to find Rachael and her work

*

Resources mentioned:

- Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)

- ACBS World Conference 2026

*

Support the podcast:- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntarycontribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Dr. Rachael Skews and learn more about her work:

- Website: https://www.rachaelskews.com/

- The Coaching UnpACT podcast

*

For show notes, please visit ⁠heididelanghe.com/podcast⁠

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Career & Leadership Coach • Expert inGiftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

- Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

- Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/⁠

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

In this episode in English, I’m joined by Sharmin Reehman — CEO and Founder of Elev8te — a company dedicated to building partnerships that drive a more diverse, innovative, and inclusive tech industry. Sharmin is also the City Leader for Founders Live Singapore, where she regularly hosts free pitching competitions for founders.
Half Indian and half Iranian, Sharmin has called Singapore home for the past 16 years. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across banking, consulting, and government — and her bold transition into entrepreneurship — she shares candid lessons on failure, neurodiversity (including ADHD and dyslexia), and building companies that genuinely align withlife goals. We also dive into why diversity, innovation, and inclusion in tech matters.

*

 TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Choose Work
01:00 Meet Sharmin Reehman and why diversity, innovation, and inclusion in tech matter
02:00 Sharmin’s career journey across banking, consulting, government, and entrepreneurship
03:00 Core career lessons: mentors, neurodiversity as strength, and falling forward
06:00 Shifting from proving yourself to making an impact and delivering value
09:00 Navigating bias, identity, and being an outcast in male-dominated environments
13:00 From corporate roles to founding Elev8te and embracing entrepreneurship

14:18 The steep learning curve—and fulfillment—of building something from scratch

16:46 Purpose, impact, and why entrepreneurship feels different from corporate work

22:00 Flexibility, productivity, and designing work around energy—not hours
23:30 The loneliness of entrepreneurship and how to cope with it
25:00 Building support systems and finding validation beyond titles and salary

36:00 Neurodiversity, ADHD, dyslexia, and big-picture thinking

41:55 How diversity fuels innovation—and why inclusion sustains it

43:16 Diversity, innovation and inclusion to build high-performance teams
49:43 Five-year vision: learning, travel, wellness, and global impact
52:54 Where to find Sharmin and how to connect

*

Support the podcast:- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntarycontribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

For show notes, please visit heididelanghe.com/podcast

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at [email protected]

Contact Heidi - Career & Leadership Coach • Expert inGiftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call at heididelanghe.com/contact

- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Instagram: instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

I had the privilege of speaking with Professor Filip De Fruyt, who brings over 35 years of expertise in academic research and international business consultancy.

🎓 Filip is a Senior Full Professor of Differential Psychology and Personality Assessment at Ghent University and serves as International Relationships Officer at Low Lands Assessment Systems.

This episode in English is a deep dive into Person-Environment Fit (P-EFit) - and why it’s central to understanding careers, performance, and employee retention.

💡 Key insights from our conversation:
🔹 For over three decades, Filip has studied the intersection of how people work and perform (Big Five personality model) and what they do (Holland’s RIASEC vocational interest model).
🔹 Fit can be supplementary or complementary — a crucial consideration when hiring.
🔹 Fit is dynamic, not static: your role at 28 may no longer be the right fit at 32.
🔹 Organisations often over-focus on performance, but should also align employees’ learning and development with their vocational interests - critical in today's fast-changing job market.

*

 Resources Referenced:

- Low Lands Assessment Systems: https://lowlandsassessmentsystems.com/en

- Lola-test: https://lowlandsassessmentsystems.com/en/explore-your-passion- The Big Five or Five-Factor Model: dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness

- John Holland's theory of vocational interests, the "RIASECmodel": interest domains of Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional

*

Support the podcast:- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntarycontribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Filip De Fruyt: 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/filip-de-fruyt/

- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aqL24tgAAAAJ&hl=en

*

Contact Heidi - Career & Leadership Coach • Expert inGiftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book a free discovery call here: www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

#CareerDevelopment #PersonEnvironmentFit #Psychology #FutureOfWork #BigFive #RIASEC #EmployeeEngagement

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

Meet Isabelle François - PhD in Bio-Engineering, science communicator for 15+ years in various sectors, and now the founder of Bright Star Coaching.

In 2022, Isabelle made a bold career switch to follow her passion: supporting gifted children ánd their families in rediscovering their strengths and shining with confidence.

Isabelle also teaches at SPRING-STOF, a non-profit offering tailored education to cognitively talented children.

In this episode in English, Isabelle opens up about her entrepreneurial journey in Belgium - the bright moments ánd the challenges.

💡 Highlights from the episode:

🔹 Even as a coach and expert in giftedness, Isabelle still finds it hard to say out loud that she is gifted.

🔹 Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, so having a tribe to support you is important.

🔹 Her favorite quote? "Everyting is an experiment." It doesn't need to be perfect, it needs to be good, just try it.

🔹 Despite the challenges of being an entrepreneur, it's worth it. The overall balance? Positive. 

*

 Organisations, Programme and Podcast Referenced:

- Hoogbloeier: www.hoogbloeier.be

- Spring-stof: https://www.spring-stof.be/

- Springplank: https://www.vlaanderen.be/springplank-naar-zelfstandige

- FastForwardAmy Podcast-Amy Vandeputte

*

Support the podcast:
- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntarycontribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Isabelle François:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snelle_hoofdjes_coach/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellefrancois/

- Website: https://brightstarcoaching.be/

*

Contact Heidi - Career & Leadership Coach • Expert inGiftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

#Entrepreneurship #Coaching #Giftedness #Career #CareerGrowth #Podcast #Solopreneur#ChooseWork #Hoogbegaafdheid #Carrière

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.

Many people dream of starting their own business.

Not that many people do it.

And few people... manage to build a multi-million dollar business.

Bruno Lowagie (55) is one of the few who achieved this. As the original developer of iText, an open-source PDF library, he built a multi-million dollar business alongside his wife, growing it from a startup to a successful exit.

Bruno is also co-founder of the Wintercircus in Ghent and an author of both fiction and non-fiction books.

This 6th episode in English marks the start of a new theme we will explore in several episodes: Entrepreneurship.

🔎 What will you discover in this rollercoaster episode?
✅ Bruno's top entrepreneurial lessons

✅ What he would change if he were running Belgium  

✅ His "superpower"

✅ His ambitions for the future

*

Books and Hub Referenced:

- Lowagie, B. (2025). Onvoltooid toekomstige tijd.

- Lowagie, B. (2024). Entreprenerd. Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Business with Open Source Software.

- Thoreau, H.D. (originally published in 1854). Walden: or, Life in the Woods.

- Wasserman, N. (2013). The Founder's Dilemmas.

- Wintercircus: https://www.wintercircus.be/en

*

Support the podcast:
- If you enjoy Choose Work, you can support it with a small voluntarycontribution (even the price of a coffee) via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/choosework

*

Contact Bruno Lowagie:

- Website: https://lowagie.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blowagie/

*

Contact Heidi - Career & Leadership Coach • Expert inGiftedness • Mindfulness Teacher:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

*

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. The conversations are intended for informational purposes and do notconstitute professional, psychological, or career advice.